The University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball team secured a 78-57 win over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Hackensack, New Jersey, advancing to the championship game of the FDU Christmas Classic. With this victory, Penn marked its ninth win of the season and will face Binghamton in the tournament final scheduled for 1 p.m. on December 30.
Katie Collins and Saniah Caldwell led the Quakers’ offense, combining for 35 points—Collins scored 18 points and Caldwell added 17. Collins also contributed significantly on defense with 11 rebounds and five blocks. The team shot 47 percent from the field and outrebounded UMES by a margin of five.
Four Penn players finished in double figures: Tina Njike, Katie Collins, Saniah Caldwell, and Simone Sawyer. The Quakers maintained control for most of the contest, leading for nearly 37 out of 40 minutes. They also recorded 18 assists and scored 40 points in the paint.
Penn started slowly but quickly found rhythm after Simone Sawyer’s early free throws. The team converted eight of its next twelve field goals and added seven points from free throws during that stretch. In the first quarter alone, Collins and Njike combined for 13 points, helping Penn build a substantial lead at 25-4 before UMES made its first field goal.
By halftime, Penn led by eighteen points after continuing to attack inside; they had totaled 24 points in the paint during the first half. Caldwell hit two three-pointers in the second quarter as Penn extended its advantage further.
The Quakers maintained their performance into the second half with contributions from Tina Njike and Katie Collins. Despite being outscored by UMES in the fourth quarter, Penn’s lead was never threatened as they completed a comfortable win.
Next, Penn will compete against Binghamton for the FDU Christmas Classic title.
For updates on Penn Women’s Basketball, fans can follow @PennWBB on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or visit PennAthletics.com.
